This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

http://www.ejves.com/article/S1078-5884 ... 2/abstract
QUOTE
European Journal of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery

.Article in Press
Venous Angioplasty in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Results of a Pilot Study
P. Zamboni
AffiliationsVascular Diseases Centre, University of Ferrara, C.so Giovecca 203, 44100 Ferrara, ItalyCorresponding author. Tel.: +39 0532236524; fax: +39 0532237443.
, R. Galeotti
AffiliationsInterventional Radiology Unit, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
, B. Weinstock-Guttman
AffiliationsThe Jacobs Neurological Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
, C. Kennedy
AffiliationsBuffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, University at Buffalo, NY, USA
, F. Salvi
AffiliationsBellaria Neurosciences, Bologna, Italy
, R. Zivadinov
AffiliationsThe Jacobs Neurological Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USABuffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, University at Buffalo, NY, USA
published online 12 August 2011.
Corrected Proof

Abstract Full Text PDFImages References .Abstract
Objectives
Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of the study was to see if percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of duplex-detected lesions, of the internal jugular and/or azygous veins, was safe, burdened by a significant restenosis rate, and whether there was any evidence that treatment reduced MS disease activity.

Design: This was a case-control study.

Materials: We studied 15 patients with relapsing–remitting MS and duplex-detected CCSVI.

Methods
Eight patients had PTA in addition to medical therapy (immediate treatment group (ITG)), whereas seven had treatment with PTA after 6 months of medical therapy alone (delayed treatment group (DTG)).

Results
No adverse events occurred. At 1 year, there was a restenosis rate of 27%. Overall, PTA was followed by a significant improvement in functional score compared with baseline (p < 0.02). The annualised relapse rate was 0.12% in the ITG compared with 0.66% in the DTG (p = NS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) blindly demonstrates a trend for fewer T2 lesions in the ITG (p = 0.081), corresponding to a 10% decrease in the ITG compared with a 23% increase in the DTG over the first 6 months of the study.

Conclusions
This study further confirms the safety of PTA treatment in patients with CCSVI associated with MS. The results, despite the significant rate of restenosis, are encouraging and warrant a larger multicentre double-blinded, randomised study.

Thanks, dania. Cheer has posted this here as well:
www.thisisms.com/ftopict-17572.html

27% restenosis may be high but it's lower than the 50% in an earlier study.

I also found the MRI data very interesting! Would hope that this leads to further studies using MRIs of MS lesions as an endpoint, if this can be duplicated.